Spray mechanism for irons

ABSTRACT

SPRAY MECHANISM FOR A FABRIC CONDITIONING DEVICE SUCH AS AN IRON. THE MECHANISM IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE PROVISION OF A NOZZLE WHICH IS MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE TO PROVIDE MORE THAN ONE SPRAY PATTERN AND TO ALSO PROVIDE SPRAY PATTERNS WHICH ARE WIDELY DISPERSED TO THEREBY EFFECT GREATER IRONING EFFICIENCY. THE MECHANISM IS FURTHER CHAR-   ACTERIZED IN THAT THE NOZZLE CAN BE INSTALLED WITHOUT TOOLS AND IT SERVES TO MOUNT A TRIM MEMBER TO THE IRON HANDLE.

Jan. 5,1971 c, G, PHFER 3,552,046

SPRAY MECHANISM FOR IRONS Filed Sept. 16, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8RW 1 .Q

El 3 g g 9 co m m a N a N N O Q WITNESSES |NVENTOR ZZMQ-wj W Clarence G. Phifer AGENT 5, 1971 c. G. PHl F ER 352,4

SPRAY MECHANISM FOR IRONS Filed Sept. 16, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,552,046 SPRAY MECHANISM FOR IRONS Clarence G. Phifer, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 759,993 Int. Cl. D06f 75/06 11.5. C]. 38-775 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Spray mechanism for a fabric conditioning device such as an iron. The mechanism is characterized by the provision of a nozzle which is manually adjustable to provide more than one spray pattern and to also provide spray patterns which are widely dispersed to thereby effect greater ironing efficiency. The mechanism is further characterized in that the nozzle can be installed without tools and it serves to mount a trim member to the iron handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general, to fabric conditioning devices and, more particularly, to electric irons employing water spraying mechanism.

Manually operated spraying devices which are built into the iron are well known. Such devices commonly comprise a nozzle having a circular exit hole or aperture at the center thereof, to emit water. Such constructions provide a single spray pattern which produces a circular or slightly elliptical wetting of the fabric being conditioned. Although the foregoing type of nozzle works, it is not totally satisfactory because the water is not widely dispersed, hence, several spurts are necessary, along with redirection of the nozzle through movement of the iron, to obtain adequate fabric coverage.

The problems of the above-described structure have been solved, at least in part, by the provision of a nozzle which, without movement of the iron, can be adjusted to thereby obtain proper coverage of the fabric. While this solution eliminates the necessity of iron movement, it does not provide a choice of different spray patterns nor does it reduce the number of squirts required for a given area of fabric to be conditioned.

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fabric conditioning device.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved spray mechanism for an electric iron.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in spraying mechanism for a conditioning device, a nozzle which requires no tools for installation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in spray mechanism for a fabric conditioning device, a nozzle which serves to retain a trim member on the device.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide spray mechanism for a fabric conditioning device, which mechanism provides a plurality of spray patterns including at least a widely dispersed pattern and a narrowly dispersed pattern.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in spray mechanism for an electric iron, nozzle structure and valve means therefor which are readily cleanable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the above-cited objects are accomplished by the provision of spray mechanism wherein the nozzle has a circular aperture therethrough for emission of water. A slot is provided in the face of the nozzle and is superimposed on and extends beyond. each side of the aperture. The nozzle is snap-fitted to a transition element,

3,552,846 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 from the pump, in such a manner that it can be freely rotated between certain predetermined limits. Through rotation of the nozzle, the spray pattern is varied from a widely dispersed (slot disposed substantially horizontal) mist to a long narrow mist (slot inclined toward the vertical).

The nozzle is disposed in a recessed area at the front or forward part of the handle, which recessed area communicates with the water reservoir for filling thereof. The recessed area has a trim member which is held in place, solely, by the nozzle after it has been installed by snapping it onto the transition element.

To create a fine spray or mist the nozzle is provided with slots in the rear face thereof, consequently, the spinneret of the prior art construction becomes a simple sealing device, which is spring-biased against the nozzle.

The conventional ball check valve of the prior art is replaced by a headed rod, the headed rod being much easier to keep track of when cleaning the nozzle; and unlike the ball check, it does not bounce freely.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description and drawings forming a part hereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of an electric iron incorporating an adjustable spray mechanism forming an important part of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of a nozzle and adaptor forming a part of the adjustable spray mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view of the nozzle structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the nozzle structure shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an adaptor forming a part of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, reference character 10 indicates generally an electric steam and spray iron. It is to be understood that while the invention will be disclosed in conjunction with the iron 10, it is not so limited. The iron 10 comprises a handle structure 11, a shell or housing 12, and a sole plate 13.

Heat is supplied to the sole plate 13 by a heater structure 14 embedded therein. The sole plate 13 has an area indicated at 16 which cooperates with a portion of a cover member 17 to form a vaporization chamber. The chamber receives water from a reservoir 18 supported above the sole plate 13 by a mounting bracket 19. Flow of water from the reservoir 18 to the vaporization chamber is controlled in a well-known manner by valve structure 21 consisting of a seat 22 supported in a bottom wall of the reservoir 18 and a valve stem 23. The valve stem is raised and lowered by means of a cam follower nut 24 which rides on the underside of a cam structure 26 actuated through a conventional control knob 27 and lever (not shown) which interconnects the knob and the cam. Water is introduced into the reservoir 18 through a fill channel 28 having an inlet 29 and an outlet 31, the latter of which is adapted to be blocked by a closure member 32 carried by the valve stem 23.

The temperature of the sole plate 13 is regulated by a temperature responsive device in the form of a bimetal 33 secured to the sole plate 13 such that it effects opening and closing of a pair of contact carrying arms 34 and 35 which serve to make and break the electrical circuit to the heater 14. The relative positioning of the arms determines the temperature to which the sole plate will rise, accordingly, a connector rod 36 is provided to adjust the relative spacing of the contacts carried by the arms. The rod 36 which is conected to the contact arm 34- is also connected to a yoke member 37, to which movement is imparted by the cam 26.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a water spraying mechanism 38 for conditioning fabrics. The mechanism 38 comprises an inlet tube 39 which extends through an elongated bore 41 in the handle structure 11 and terminates in water reservoir 18 just short of the bottom wall thereof. The tube 39 communicates with a bellows element 42 through a pump 43. Compression of the bellows element 42 to effect fiow of water from the reservoir 18, upwardly through the inlet tube 39 to the pump 43, is accomplished by means of a spray lever 44 mounted in an opening 46 in the top of the handle structure 11. A nozzle structure 47 communicates with the pump 43 through an outlet tube 48 and an adapter and mounting bracket 49. The adapter 49 has a body portion 51 having wing segments 52 (FIG. 5) received in opposed slots 53 (only one being shown) formed in the handle structure 11. On its rear surface the adapter is provided with connector portion 54 (FIGS. 2 and 5) which is insertable in the outlet tube 48. On its front surface the adapter has a shoulder 56 for supporting the nozzle structure 47. At tachment of the nozzle structure to the shoulder is accomplished through an annular groove 57 provided internally of the nozzle structure 47 and an annular tongue 58 received the groove 57. This arrangement allows relative rotation of the nozzle structure and the shoulder. The nozzle structure 47 is disposed in a recessed area 59 (FIG. 1) in the forward post portion 61 of the handle structure 11 and protrudes through an opening 60 in the post portion 61 for installation on the shoulder 56. To cover the opening 60 and to dress up the recessed area 59, there is provided a trim member 62 which is held in place solely by the nozzle structure 47. To facilitate rotation of the nozzle structure, for reasons to be discussed hereinafter, it is provided with a lever or hand manipulating portion 63. Rotation of the nozzle is limited by positive engagement of the lever 63 with opposed side walls 64 (only one being shown) delineating the recessed area 59.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the nozzle structure 47, molded from any suitable material, for example nylon, has formed in the rear surface of the wall 66 thereof, a plurality of substantially radial slots 67 which as shown in FIG. 2, communicate with an aperture 68 which eX- tends through the wall 66 and communicates, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, with a radially extending slot 69' provided in the front surface of the wall 66. These slots 67, in a well-known manner, serve to cause the water to break into fine particles, while the slot 69 serves to effect a wide dispersion of the fine particles along the longitudinal aXis thereof. It should now be understood that rotation of the nozzle structure 47 serves to reorient the slot 69 to thereby vary the eifect of dispersion of the water, from a very wide but short pattern to a substantially narrower but quite long pattern. As shown in FIG. 2, a seal member 71 cooperates with the spinneret slots 67 to effect the desired results. Further reference to FIG. 2 will disclose a valve stem in the form of a headed rod 72, made from any suitable material, for example, nylon. The rod 72 replaces the conventional ball which, as is well known, is so easy to lose. The rod is quite small, as is the ball which it replaces, but because of its shape and because of the material used in its fabrication it is quite easily retained.

In order to provide a front-to-back springiness in the adapter 49 and to facilitate assembly and retention of the trim member 62, the wings of the adapter are fluted as indicated at 74 (FIG. 5).

Since numerous changes may be made in the above apparatus and different embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fabric conditioning device, in combination:

a water reservoir,

a spray nozzle comprising a wall having an aperture therein,

means interconnecting said water reservoir and said spray nozzle for effecting emission of water from the latter,

means for adjusting the position of said spray nozzle from a first position to a second position to thereby vary the spray pattern from said nozzle.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1 wherein:

said nozzle has a slot in the front surface of the wall therof which slot is superimposed on an aperture in said front wall, said slot serving to widely disperse the water emanating from said aperture when oriented in said first position.

3. Structure as specified in claim 1:

wherein said nozzle and said interconnecting means comprise coupling means allowing assembly of the nozzle and the interconnecting means without tools.

4. Structure as specified in claim 3 including:

a trim member for said device in the area of said nozzle and wherein,

said trim member is retrained solely by said nozzle.

5. Structure as specified in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means includes:

a water pump, and

valve means for preventing reverse flow back into the water pump during its refill stroke, said valve means comprising a headed rod.

6. Structure as specified in claim 1 including:

means for creating a fine mist emanating from said nozzle, said means comprising a plurality of radial slots provided in the rear surface of said Wall.

7. Structure as specified in claim 3 wherein:

said coupling means comprises an annular tongue and groove arrangement permitting relative rotation therebetween, and adapting the nozzle and interconnecting means for easy assembly.

8. Structure as specified in claim 2 including:

positive stop means for limiting rotation of said nozzle between said first and second positions whereby the spray pattern emanating from said nozzle can be varied from a relatively short but Wide one to a relatively long but narrow one.

9. An electric iron for conditioning wearing apparel, said iron comprising:

a water reservoir,

a nozzle of directing water onto said wearing apparel,

means including a pump interconnecting said reservoir to the nozzle,

means forming a part of said nozzle for effecting a wide dispersion of the water emanating from said nozzle, means for adjusting the annular orientation of said nozzle to vary the water dispersion pattern.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,716,297 8/1955 'Hoecker 38-77.5' 3,077,900 2/1963 Ehrmann et al. 38-775 3,264,764 8/1966 Vieceli 3877.5

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

